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Kris Rhim
LOS ANGELES — According to sources, the Chargers plan to hire former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington on Tuesday night.
Since being let go by the Dolphins last week, McDaniel has interviewed for several head coaching and offensive coordinator roles.
The Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles both targeted him as a top candidate for offensive coordinator, with Tampa Bay making a particularly strong effort. yet, McDaniel’s desire to return to California, where he spent many years with the San Francisco 49ers, along with the opportunity to coach talented quarterback Justin Herbert, motivated his final choice. if not there’s a change of plans, he will join coach Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.
Harbaugh has been on the lookout for a new offensive coordinator since parting ways with Greg Roman last Tuesday, two days following the team’s 16-3 playoff defeat against the New England Patriots in the wild-card round. Roman had been Harbaugh’s sole offensive coordinator in the NFL, but his offense proved inconsistent and lacked creativity. In two playoff showings, the Chargers managed just a single touchdown.
Recognized for his innovative tactics involving motions and condensed formations that challenge opposing defenses, McDaniel’s methodology has influenced offenses throughout the league. Former Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott described McDaniel’s offense in Miami as “revolutionary.” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged borrowing some of McDaniel’s pre-snap motions in 2023.
During his time in Miami, which began in 2022, McDaniel revitalized quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s career. Tagovailoa, drafted fifth in 2020, had struggled before McDaniel’s arrival.
In his first season as head coach, McDaniel’s offense ranked sixth in total yards, marking the first time Miami made the top 10 in this statistic since 1995. The Dolphins topped the NFL in total offense in 2023, with Tagovailoa recording an impressive 4,624 passing yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
The highlight of McDaniel’s tenure in Miami was the Dolphins’ 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in 2023, making them the first NFL team to score 70 points with over 700 yards of offense in a game. Miami also equaled the NFL record for the most points scored in a game.
still, McDaniel went 0-2 in playoff games, and his offensive output declined over the last two years.
This season, McDaniel benched Tagovailoa after a loss in Week 15, and the Dolphins’ offense failed to show significant improvement under rookie Quinn Ewers in the final three games.
McDaniel will be charged with guiding Herbert to his first playoff victory, as the quarterback holds a 0-3 record in the postseason, having struggled significantly during those games.
